In very controversial & well-publicized trials in the US, a jury is sometimes sequestered. This means the jury has to sleep at a hotel, rather than their homes & their activities are severely restricted with respect to reading newspapers, going online, watching TV, etc. According to a detective story I read last week, the defense likes it when a jury is sequestered & the prosecution does not.How come?

does sequestering tend to lead to shorter decision times for verdicts? and do shorter decision times have a greater chance of leading to 'not guilty' verdicts? because people tend to err on the side of caution if pushed and that means they try and avoid saying someone is guilty?

Does it have to do with the media the jury would encounter if not sequestered? That news & social commentary tends to assume guilt? Is how the jury is selected in sequester vs. non-sequester cases relevant?

Posted on Tuesday, January 01, 2013 - 8:21 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) does sequestering tend to lead to shorter decision times for verdicts? irrel and do shorter decision times have a greater chance of leading to 'not guilty' verdicts? not that I know ofbecause people tend to err on the side of caution if pushed and that means they try and avoid saying someone is guilty? dittoGourami (Gourami) New member Username: Gourami

Post Number: 552 Registered: 2-2008

Posted on Tuesday, January 01, 2013 - 8:24 pm: Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IPPrint Post Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only) Does it have to do with the media the jury would encounter if not sequestered? noThat news & social commentary tends to assume guilt? noIs how the jury is selected in sequester vs. non-sequester cases relevant? No --& sometimes sequestering is begun after the trial is underway

I didn't think it would be that simple with a Nimue puzzle...just had to cover the bases. ;)

Might sequestration change the verdict? Does it make some process of the trial easier for the defense? Are they able to communicate with the jury? Control others' communication with them? curry favor with them in some way?

Is it the defendant himself that is benefited by the sequestration? The trial lawyers? Someone else working in the law firm? The defendant's family or other supporters?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I didn't think it would be that simple with a Nimue puzzle...just had to cover the bases. ;) Well, it was. How humiliating!!

Might sequestration change the verdict? yesish Does it make some process of the trial easier for the defense? see previous answer Are they able to communicate with the jury? no Control others' communication with them? nocurry favor with them in some way? no

Is it the defendant himself that is benefited by the sequestration? yesThe trial lawyers? see previous answerSomeone else working in the law firm? noThe defendant's family or other supporters? see previous answer but one

**************** SPOILER ******* According to a recent mystery novel, defense lawyers like it when a jury is sequestered, because, having had a taste of being locked up, the jury will be more reluctant to impose this on the defendant. Yes, Gourami, it was that simple!! How humiliating!! Please chexck out my new puzzle, where I'll try to redeem myself!!